For almost a week I have been doing the sheet metal on my 8N - hammering, welding, Bondo-ing, sanding, primering, sanding, painting, etc. It's my least favorite thing, but I'm methodical and I've been working on one or two pieces at a time and completely finishing them before moving on. I hope to finish up today, having only the hood and the outside half of one fender to go!It has been hot and sunny here all week, and it seems to me that I'm getting an extra good quality job by using the sun to "bake on" the final coat. I'm spraying paint in the shade with the metal at the ambient temp. (high 80's). Watching the reflection, I'm taking the paint coat just beyond the orange peel effect, letting it flow together into a solid sheet. Then, I'm putting the part on a piece of cardboard in the driveway in the full sun for several hours. I don't know what temp. the metal reaches while the paint is drying - probably 180 F. or so, I sure can't hold my hand on it. Anyway, I'm thinking this is a fair approximation of a professional heat-drying booth. The finish I'm getting, with good quality enamel, seems very smooth, hard, and porcelain-like. It's amazing how many gnats per square yard Missouri has in August - but other than that, what do you think of this baking method?
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